ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
President of India inaugurates 13th annual convention of the CIC
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the 13th Annual Convention of the Central Information Commission  here today.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that free flow of information is the essence of democracy. And for the people of a free and free-spirited country, information is power. They have a right to know how they are being governed, how public money is being spent, how public and national resources are being deployed, how public services are being delivered, and how public works and welfare programmes are being carried out. In a democracy, there is no such thing as too much information. Information overload is always preferable to information deficit.
The President said that RTI is not a standalone. It is part of the larger narrative of strengthening Indian democracy, of ensuring transparency across systems of governance, and of building capacities of the common citizen to enable him or her to take informed decisions and make informed choices. Above all, it is about nurturing the social contract of trust between the citizen and the state – where both must have faith in each other. A related and parallel implication is to ensure rational use of public resources to check instances of corruption or waste.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region , PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said the Government is committed to strengthening the RTI Act and Institutions. He said the number of Public Authorities brought under the RTI Act have increased from 1,600 to 2,092 during the last four years. The disposal rate of RTI applications has also increased from 20,147 in March, 2014 to 29,005 this year. As regards Pendency, there are more than 40,000 cases at present as compared to 24,351 in August, 2010. The increasing number of RTI cases is a result of the transparency in Governance process ushered in by the Government under the leadership of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, he added.
Stating that the CIC at present has six Information Commissioners besides the Chief Information Commissioner, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the Government has already initiated the process of selection of CIC and ICs as vacancies are scheduled to arise soon. “We will neither hold back nor delay appointment ,” he added.
In his welcome speech, the CIC Shri RK Mathur reiterated the Commission is constantly working towards improving delivery of information under the RTI Act. Status of RTI appeals has been made entirely online and can be tracked in realtime, he added.
Information Commissioners, CIC, Shri Yashovardhan Azad and Prof. M.S Acharyulu were among the dignitaries present.
Ministry of Culture
On the occasion of International Women's Day all ASI protected ticketed Monuments will be free for all women visitors from India and abroad - Shri Prahlad Singh Patel
Archaeological Survey of India is fully committed towards safety and security of women visitors to monuments – Shri Prahlad Singh Patel
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Union Minister of State for Culture & Tourism , Shri Prahlad Singh Patel has announced that All ASI protected ticketed Monuments including Taj Mahal will be free for all women visitors from India and across the world. Shri Patel said that India has a great tradition to give respect to women and we believe that wherever women are given their due respect, even the deities like to reside there and where they are not respected, all actions remain unfruitful.
He further said that it is a small tribute from Ministry of Culture to the women power of the world. He also said that Archaeological Survey of India is fully committed towards safety and security of women visiting its monuments. He said that in this direction a Baby care & Feeding Room was inaugurated by him at the premises of Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on 29th August 2019 and after that the same has been set up at various monuments across India.
Baby care & Feeding Room in Agra
He said that in order to provide safe and convenient visitor experience to Women to it’s monuments, Archaeological Survey of India has made following provisions:
- Baby Feeding Rooms/Child care centers at various monuments across India.
- Neat and Clean toilet facilities for women visiting monuments.
- Deployment of women Security Guards for safe and secure visit of ladies.
- Separate queue for ladies buying tickets/tokens in some important monuments like Red Fort and Taj Mahal.
- Separate entry and exit gateways for women in some important monuments like Red Fort and Taj Mahal.
- Special drive like Talk sessions held regularly on topics like ‘Gender Sensitization’ for the staff of ASI and CISF.
- Lady security staff has been deployed at entry points for frisking of lady passengers.
Vice President's Secretariat
Pandemic has exposed inadequacies in the current global system; a multilateral and collaborative approach needed to address these gaps – Vice President
Oceans are the pathways to prosperity; it is important that their access remain free and unencumbered – Vice President
Road to fighting climate change is through climate justice – Vice President
Vice President addresses the Retreat Session of the 13th Asia-Europe Summit
The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, today addressed the Retreat Session of the two-day ASEM Summit which began on November 25th in virtual format, themed on “Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth”. The Vice President had made interventions in the Plenary Session of the Summit yesterday.
At the Retreat Session, Shri Naidu said that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the many inadequacies in the current global system, particularly the health system & the supply chains and called for a multilateral and collaborative approach to address these gaps. Talking about India’s contribution in the fight against COVID-19, he said that by controlling the transmission of infection in one-sixth of the world's population, India has contributed to making the world safer. Referring to the milestone of more than a billion vaccinations, Shri Naidu said that India is also in the process of restarting the global export of vaccines to countries in need.
Stressing the importance of Maritime Security in an increasingly globalized world, the Vice President said that oceans are the pathways to prosperity and it is important that their access remain free and unencumbered, both from traditional and non-traditional threats. In this regard, he mentioned the five principles that define India’s approach including free, open and secure maritime trade, peaceful settlement of maritime disputes based on international law, collective address of natural disasters and maritime threats, preservation of maritime environment and maritime resources and encouraging responsible maritime connectivity based on sustainability and absorption capacity of countries.
Describing climate action as another area of common interest, the Vice President reiterated that the road to fighting climate change is through climate justice which requires countries to take a bigger and long-term picture.
Shri Naidu said that in the post-pandemic era, a different world awaits us. “It is one that puts a greater premium on trust and transparency, resilience and reliability, as also on choices and redundancy,” he said and observed that the ASEM process, bringing together countries of Asia and Europe, has a critical role to play in this regard. On this occasion, he also reaffirmed India’s commitment to share its experience and resources with the world in the spirit of solidarity to ensure security and growth for all in the region.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India registers highest single day recoveries with more than 70,000 COVID patients discharged
More than ¾ of the total cases Recover
Total recoveries cross 31 lakh
India’s TEST, TRACK and TREAT strategy is showing tangible results.The Recovery Rate of India touched a record high of more than 70000 patients being discharged in a single day.The highest ever single day recoveries of 70,072 were recorded in the last 24 hours. With this high number of COVID-19 patients recovering and being discharged from the hospitals and home isolation, the Recovery Rate now is 77.23%.This has also led to the declining Case Fatality Rate, which stands at a new low of 1.73%today.
Early identification through TESTING has led to higher daily number being reported but surveillance& contact TRACING along with focus on timely and appropriate clinical TREATMENT of patients have ensured speedy recovery.Higher number of recoveries and declining fatality has shown that India's graded strategy has worked.
India has posted more than 22.6 lakh recoveries than the active cases .The active cases currently comprise only 21.04%of the total positive cases.
The total number of recoveries have crossed31 lakh  today.Five States have contributed to 60% of the total recoveries. Maharashtra has contributed the maximum recoveries amounting to almost 21%, followed by Tamil Nadu ,Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka  and Uttar Pradesh.
For all authentic & updated information on COVID-19 related technical issues, guidelines & advisories please regularly visit: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/ and @MoHFW_INDIA.
Technical queries related to COVID-19 may be sent to technicalquery.covid19[at]gov[dot]in and other queries on ncov2019[at]gov[dot]in and @CovidIndiaSeva .
In case of any queries on COVID-19, please call at the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare helpline no.: +91-11-23978046 or 1075 . List of helpline numbers of States/UTs on COVID-19 is also available at https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/coronvavirushelplinenumber.pdf
Ministry of Education
Union Education Minister inaugurates Shaheed Bhagat Singh Smarak in New Delhi today
The existing collection of books on freedom fighters in the Bhagat Singh Smarak to be converted into “Shaheed Smriti Pustakalaya” - Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank'
The University of Delhi organized a programme to pay homage and commemorate 90 years of martyrdom of our national icons of the Indian National Movement -Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru on ‘Shaheed Diwas’ in the Convention Hall of the Viceregal Lodge on 23rd March, 2021. Union Minister of Education , Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', graced the occasion virtually as the Chief Guest and Prof. P.C. Joshi, Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi presided over the function. On this occasion Shaheed Bhagat Singh Smarak was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Education virtually.
To honour and value the sacrifices made by the National heroes and to drive out lessons of inspiration from their lives and times, the Government of India has declared 23rd March as ‘Shaheed Diwas’. History holds important lessons for the humanity and commemorating such events remind ourselves of the price paid by our ancestors for the freedom we enjoy today. Only by understanding its value we can keep the flame of freedom ignited among the people.
On the occasion of the 97th convocation ceremony held at the University of Delhi, Shri Pokhriyal stressed on the need of holding events that instil inspiration and pride in the youth of today, to absorb the values that our national heroes exemplified in making independent India a reality.
The existing collection of books on freedom fighters in the Bhagat Singh Smarak has been announced to be converted into “Shaheed Smriti Pustakalaya” by the Union Minister of Education. Tribute was paid to Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his associates through patriotic songs presented by the students and faculty members of the Music Faculty, University of Delhi. Homage was paid to Shaheed Bhagat Singh in the Chamber located in the basement of the Viceregal Lodge of the University where he was imprisoned.
The University organized various competitions–poetry, song, slogan and essay writing in all the Colleges. The topics for these competitions were related to Shaheed Diwas. The award winning students were felicitated by Prof. P.C. Joshi, Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi. Later, the award winning students also showcased their talents in front of the guests. Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi announced that the Bhagat Singh Smarak shall remain open to the students and university community to inculcate values of freedom and sacrifice.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Union Minister for Women & Child Development and Minority Affairs visits Atal Tea Garden and Participates in Swachhata hi Seva Campaign with Tea Garden Workers
Smt Smriti Zubin Irani visits Tenzing Norgay Bus Stand and Participates in
Swachhata hi Seva Programme
Siliguri, October 1, 2023
The Union Minister for Women & Child Development Smt Smriti Zubin Irani today visited West Bengal to participate in a campaign on ‘Swachhata hi Seva’ in Siliguri, North Bengal. At Bagdogra Airport the Union Minister was given a warm welcome by MP, Darjeeling Shri Raju Bista by offering her ceremonial Khada. She then visited Atal Tea Garden on the way and participated in a one-hour shramadan activity centering ‘Swachhata hi Seva’ campaign with the tea garden lady workers and exchanged pleasantries with them.
Smt Irani also visited the Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus to attend a ‘Swachhata hi Seva’ programme there. She was accompanied by Shri Bista there. The BJP State President Dr Sukanta Majumdar was also present on the occasion. Smt Irani also paid floral tributes to the portrait of Dr B R Ambedkar, the legend behind drafting Indian Constitution.
The Union Minister then sat at a nearby tea shop at the bus stand and offered tea to everybody and talked to the crowd. After remaining there for some time, she went for a party programme at Dagapara Football Ground, Siliguri.
UPSC
Combined Defence Services Examination 2019-Final Result
The following are the lists, in order of merit of 196  candidates who have qualified on the basis of the results of the Combined Defence Services Examination , 2019 conducted by the Union Public Service Commission in September, 2019 and SSB interviews held by the Services Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence for admission to the 149th  Course of Indian Military Academy, Dehradun; Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala and Air Force Academy, Hyderabad  Training Course i.e. No. 208F Course.
There are some common candidates in the three lists for various courses. The number of vacancies, as intimated by the Government is 100 for Indian Military Academy [including 13 vacancies reserved for NCC ‘C’ certificates  holders], 45 for Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala Executive /Hydro [including 06 vacancies reserved for NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders ] and 32 for Air Force Academy, Hyderabad [03 vacancies are reserved for NCC ’C’ Certificate  holders through NCC Spl. Entry].
The Commission had recommended 2699, 1592 and 0611 as qualified in the written test for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy, respectively. The number of candidates finally qualified are those after SSB test conducted by Army Head Quarters. The results of Medical examination have not been taken into account in preparing these lists.Verification of date of birth and educational qualifications of these candidates is still under process by the Army Headquarters. The candidature of all these candidates is, therefore, Provisional on this score. Candidates are requested to forward their certificates, in original, in support of Date of Birth/Educational qualification etc. claimed by them, along with Photostat attested copies thereof to Army Headquarters /Naval Headquarters /Air Headquarters, as per their first choice.
In case, there is any change of address, the candidates are advised to promptly intimate directly to the Army Headquarters /Naval Headquarters /Air Headquarters.These results will also be available on the UPSC website at http://www.upsc.gov.in. However, marks of the candidates will be available on the website after declaration of final result of Officers’ Training Academy  for Combined Defence Services Examination , 2019. For any further information, the candidates may contact Facilitation Counter near Gate ‘C’ of the Commission’s Office, either in person or on telephone Nos.011-23385271/011-23381125/011-23098543 between 10:00 hours and 17:00 hours on any working day.
Click here for final result:
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SNC
(Visitor Counter : 750
Special Service and Features
WALK –IN-INTERVIEW
It is proposed to conduct “Walk-in-Interview” for empanelment / engaging Direct Agent for Sale of Postal Life Insurance / Rural Postal Life Insurance products. Interested candidates fulfilling the conditions below may attend “Walk-in-Interview” to be held in the O/0 Superintendent of Post Offices, Arakkonam Division 631 001 near Government Hospital at 1000 hours on 01.02.2021.
The applicant must have passed 10th standard or equivalent examination conducted by a Board recognized by Central / State Government. The minimum and maximum age of the applicant shall be 18 years and 50 years respectively on the date of “Walk-in-Interview”.
Umemployed / Self employed educated youth, Ex life advisors / Ex agents of any insurance Company, Ex-servicemen, Anganwadi workers, Mahila Mandal workers, Retired Teachers, Self Help Groups functionaries, Gram Pradhan, Members of Gram Panchayat and any intending person fulfilling above conditions may attend.
Experience in selling Insurance Products, knowledge of handling computers / local area knowledge is desirable. Procurement as well as Renewal incentive will be paid in the approved rates.
Candidates may come with their bio-data, original proof of age/educational/ qualification/required certificate for experience with Xerox for each, if any, according to a press release issued by Shri K Siva Shankar, Superintendent of Post Office, Arakonam 631 001.
Ministry of Defence
AN-32 Aircraft Crash
There were no survivors in the AN-32 aircraft crash. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to probe into the cause of the crash.
The families of the victims were initially informed that the aircraft was missing. They were also informed about the rescue efforts undertaken. Once the wreckage was located and it was confirmed that there were no survivors, the same was then informed to the families of the victims. A team of officers is in regular touch with the affected families.
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Naik in a written reply to Shri K.R. Arjunan and Shrimati Vijila Sathyananth in Rajya Sabha today.
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Ministry of Science & Technology
Study Explored Benefits of Yoga in Chronic Low Back Pain
Most of the yoga-based studies so far have relied on patient’s experience and rating of pain and disability as an indicator of recovery and better quality of life. Researchers who measured pain, pain tolerance and body flexibility have found that yoga leads to pain relief, increases tolerance of pain and improves flexibility in patients of chronic low back pain.
Dr Renu Bhatia, Additional Professor, Department of Physiology, AIIMS, New Delhi conducted research to measure the impact of yoga on Chronic Low Back Pain  along with Dr Raj Kumar Yadav , Dr Sri Kumar V .
The study conducted on 100 Chronic Low Back Pain  patients of 50 years with 3 years of history of the disease. After systematic Yogic intervention of 4 weeks, Quantitative sensory testing  showed increase in thresholds for cold pain and cold pain tolerance. Corticomotor excitability and flexibility improved significantly in the patients.
They recorded objective measures for pain , sensory perception  and cortical excitability parameters. .They found significant changes between all the parameters in CLBP patients compared to healthy controls at baseline. Significant improvement in all parameters was found after yoga.
This research supported by the Science and Technology of Yoga and Meditation  funded by the Department of Science and Technology, GoI has been recently published in the ‘Journal of Medical Science and Clinical Research’.
Assessment of pain and corticomotor excitability parameters shall help in establishing strong ground with scientific evidence for yoga to be prescribed as therapeutic intervention for chronic low back pain relief with or without standard therapy depending on the pathology. Also these parameters can be used for prognosis and follow-up of patients during recovery phase.
The team also developed yoga protocol for CLBP patients and for fibromyalgia patientsin Pain Research and TMS laboratory, AIIMS, New Delhi.
In patients with Chronic Low Back Pain, 4 weeks of yoga intervention improved pain status and pain-related functional disability, increased spinal flexibility and corticomotor excitability significantly more than standard care.
The study suggests that in long term Yoga can be performed at home, and hence is an inexpensive therapeutic intervention. It not only relieves pain but also improves overall quality of life and bestows other health benefits.
Dr. Renu Bhatia
Publication link:https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v9i3.30
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
PMUY: Growth in per capita consumption increased from 3.01 to 3.71 in FY 2022-23
Refills by PMUY beneficiaries goes up from 16 Cr in 2018-19 to 35 Cr in 2022-23
OMCs working towards behavioral changes through LPG Panchayats and Public Outreach Programmes
In order to provide environment friendly clean cooking fuel to women especially in rural areas to get rid of health hazards faced by them due to use of traditional fuel, Pradhan MantriUjjwalaYojana was launched on 1st May, 2016 by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi from Balia in Uttar Pradesh.
During FY 2020-21 whole world was hit by Covid and for supporting the PMUY households which are poorest of the poor people Government announced to provide 3 free refills to each PMUY households under PMGKP. During the running of the scheme, a total of 14.17 Cr refills were given free of cost to the PMUY beneficiaries.
Based on the data from pre-covid year that is FY 2019-20, there is growth in the per capita consumption which has increased from 3.01 to 3.71 in FY 2022-23.
PMUY households are poorest of the poor households. UjjwalaYojna  was launched in May 2016 to improve access to LPG, a predominant clean cooking fuel for poor households. Aim of the scheme is to provide a helping hand to poor families in taking their first move and creating a behavioral change towards clean cooking.
Creating a behavioral change in a democratic society like India takes a lot of time and continuous efforts. While PMUY has successfully helped millions of poor households in their first step towards a healthy pollution free life by providing them a free LPG connection, Oil Marketing Companies under MoP&NG are continuing their efforts towards behavioral change through initiatives like LPG Panchayat and public outreach.
88% of poor PMUY households have taken the refills during 2022-23.PMUY beneficiaries who have been taking refills has been going up from 3 Crore in 2017-18 to 6 Cr in 2018-19, 6.5 Cr in 2019-20. 8 Cr in 2020-21, 8.05 Cr in 2021-22 and 8.41 Cr in 2022-23.
Further the resounding achievement of growth of 24 % in per capita consumption of PMUY consumers over last five years is a testimony to the goodwill the scheme has brought.
Total refills taken by PMUY beneficiaries has gone up from 16 Cr in 2018-19 to 35 Cr in 2022-23, vindicating a steady and consistent growth in a permanent shift of PMUY families from unclean kitchens to a bright future.